7) REMOVE CLUTTER: BOX AND STORE ‘STUFF’. BUYERS SHOULD FEEL THE FLOW – ROOM TO ROOM. THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IMAGINE THEMSELVES LIVING THERE. PERSONAL BELONGINGS CAN BE A DISTRACTION.

8) FIX ANY DEAL BREAKERS: WINDOWS THAT STICK, KNOBS THAT WOBBLE, DOORS THAT CREAK OR STICK – THOSE CAN BE SUBTLE BUT DEFINITE DEAL BREAKERS.

9) LIGHT /BRIGHT SELLS: OPEN THE BLINDS/DRAPES. YOU WANT SUNSHINE. AT NIGHT, TURN ON EVERY LIGHT YOU HAVE… EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

10) LOSE EVERY INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE A PET (FEEDING BOWLS/PET BEDS): NOT EVERYONE SHARES YOUR TASTE IN ANIMALS, AND YOUR BUYER MIGHT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ALLERGIES/ODORS.

11) MAKE BEDROOMS LOOK INVITING: OPEN THE DRAPES. USE LUXURIOUS BED LINENS. REMOVE ALL BUT THE MOST ESSENTIAL FURNITURE.

12) CLEAN THE WINDOWS: CLEAN WINDOWS MAKE THE HOUSE FEEL NEW AND FRESH.

13) ELIMINATE NOISE. NOISE CAN BE A DEAL BREAKER: TV IN THE BACKGROUND, THE WRONG MUSIC, A NOISY WASHING MACHINE, A ‘STRUGGLING’ POOL PUMP … OR A BARKING DOG. NOISE CAN OFTEN SEND THE BUYER RUNNING.

14) LEAVE! GO OUT FOR A DRIVE OR A WALK. TAKE YOUR KIDS/ PETS … LET YOUR REALTOR SHOW AND SELL YOUR HOUSE. THAT’S WHY YOU HIRE A REALTOR. YOU WANT PROSPECTIVE BUYERS TO FEEL LIKE THE HOUSE IS/OR COULD BE THEIRS (YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE JUST YOUR GUEST).

15) MAKE THE HOUSE LOOK LIKE IT’S A MODEL HOME – SINKS AND COUTERTOPS… NOTHING ON THEM, BEDS MADE AND TOILET SEATS CLOSED: YOUR REALTOR MAY GIVE YOU ULTRA LAST-MINUTE NOTICE TO SHOW, AND THE HOUSE SHOULD BE READY TO SHOW ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

16) LEAVE PERSONAL ITEMS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS: SELL THE HOUSE FIRST, BY ITSELF. FURNISHINGS, BAR STOOLS, PATIO FURNITURE AND PLANTS CAN AND SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED SEPARATELY… AFTER EVERYONE HAS SIGNED TO BUY WHAT YOU’RE REALLY SELLING (THE “HOUSE”).

17) LET YOUR REALTOR DEAL WITH ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS FROM POTENTIAL BUYERS: NO HOUSE IS PERFECT. BUYERS MAY WANT PERFECTION … BUT EVERY HOUSE HAS IMPERFECTIONS. LET YOUR REALTOR DEAL WITH ANY UNFAVORABLE COMMENTS (AGAIN, THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE A REALTOR!). BUYERS NEED TO VOICE OBJECTIONS BEFORE THEY CAN OVERCOME THEM … AND THEY NEED SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOU TO LISTEN.

18) AVOID OVERLAPPING SHOWINGS (UNLESS IT’S AN OPEN HOUSE): NO ONE WANTS TO BUMP ELBOWS WITH OTHER BUYERS. A NEGATIVE COMMENT FROM ANOTHER PROSPECTIVE BUYER CAN UNDERMINE A SALE.

19) LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONAL YOU HIRED TO SELL YOUR HOUSE: LET YOUR AGENT DISCUSS THE DETAILS WITH THE BUYER/BUYER’S AGENT: PRICE, TERMS, POSSESSION DATES…. AND LEAVE IT TO YOUR REALTOR TO CLOSE THE SALE.

20) SHOW BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: YOUR REALTOR SHOULD SCEHDULE ALL SHOWINGS, WHETHER WITH INDIVIDUAL BUYERS OR WITH OTHER REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND BROKERS. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS HAVE YOUR HOUSE READY TO SHOW … AND THEN DISAPPEAR WHILE IT’S SHOWN.

IF YOU FOLLOW THIS BLOG, YOU KNOW THAT WHENEVER YOU, OR A FRIEND, ARE READY TO BUY OR SELL, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. CALL US AT 305 793-1365 OR LEAVE US A NOTE HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING YOUR REALTOR. THE RESTIVO TEAM – EWM REALTORS – MIAMI.